416 Nurses Trained To Provide Palliative Care in Elderly Homes

Nearly all elderly residential homes in Malta can now provide professional palliative care, thanks to specialised training delivered by Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC) to 416 nurses. The initiative covers both government-run homes and private facilities where the government purchases care services.

Its purpose is to allow patients suffering from serious health conditions such as cancer, Motor Neurone Disease, dementia, stroke, and heart or respiratory illnesses to receive all necessary care in their residential home rather than being transferred to hospital.

Health and Active Ageing Minister Jo Etienne Abela said the project, which has been running for over two years, reflects the government’s determination to strengthen palliative services in elderly care homes. He described the approach as holistic and aligned with Malta’s newly launched National Strategy for Palliative Care.

Parliamentary Secretary Malcolm Paul Agius Galea praised the achievement of training a record number of nurses to deliver this delicate care with skill and compassion. He noted that the project has evolved from a pilot phase to a fully implemented system now active in every residential home across the country.

Palliative care includes symptom management for issues such as pain, breathlessness, nausea, agitation and depression. It is delivered by a multidisciplinary team made up of doctors, geriatricians, nurses, carers, psychotherapists, social workers, practice nurses and a spiritual director.

New protocols were developed, and each home received a kit of medical equipment along with hands-on staff training. Since the programme began, 64 residents have received full care, while hundreds more have benefitted from related support.

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